This is an update to, and continuation of, the out-of-print 9th edition of my guidebook WEEKEND ADVENTURES IN SAN FRANCISCO & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. It consists of short chunks of travel throughout Northern California that you can easily digest. More great weekend adventures await at my BERKELEY AND BEYOND website at www.berkeleyandbeyond.com.

Friday, September 1, 2017

The SFMOMA is currently exhibiting “Edvard Munch: Between the Cock and the Bed,” which runs through October 9. Separate admission tickets are required; there is a $6 surcharge. Though not an upper, this is sort of a series of selfies that includes some badly out of focus images. But that is a flip description. The collection is a series of 44 images the were painted by a man who declared, “I was born dying.” Munch had a rough life, and he did what artists do--he illustrates it with his paintings. Personal favorites from the show are “Self-Portrait with a Bottle of Wine,”

“Self-Portrait with a Bottle of Wine" by Edvard Munch at SFMOMA in San Francisco

“Starry Night” (which does resemble the VanGogh of the same title),

“Starry Night" by Edvard Munch at SFMOMA in San Francisco

and “The Storm”--a detail of which resembled a wedding party that was re-enacting “The Scream” (which is not in this show).

detail from "The Storm" by Edvard Munch at SFMOMA in San Francisco

“Soundtracks” runs through January 1, 2018. It sprawls through the 7th floor, throughout the rest of the museum, and out into the streets! Get the free brochure/map when you enter the museum and take a look at it before you start. The exhibit explores sound, beginning in my case with small wood sculptures with moving parts. After, I wandered into another room with a spectacular pond on which white ceramic bowls float and make clanging music as they randomly bump into each other. I almost missed “The Visitors,” a fascinating multi-screen musical piece that is a joy to hear and watch and figure out. I only watched for about 15 minutes and felt I had seen the entire piece, but then later I found out it runs for an hour. Make sure you see the ending. I did see people sitting on the floor watching, but I think this piece requires walking around and standing in front of each of the nine screens for a while to absorb its particular contribution to the whole. My favorite is the guy in the bathtub. This exhibit is a don’t miss--don’t you miss it!

"Cantilena" in "Soundtracks" exhibit at SFMOMA in San Francisco

The largest painting ever presented at this museum--“Howl eon (I,II)” by abstract painter Julie Mehretu--consists of two 27-foot by 32-foot pieces that are hung on either side of the the first floor lobby staircase. It is a permanent exhibit. I had the additional pleasure of watching it being put into place.

subscribe

follow this blog by e-mail

about

*Is a freelance travel writer and the author of 17 books, including
MILES OF SMILES: 101 GREAT CAR GAMES & ACTIVITIES and WEEKEND
ADVENTURES IN SAN FRANCISCO & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. *Is the founding
publisher of Carousel Press and the editor of DREAM SLEEPS: CASTLE &
PALACE HOTELS OF EUROPE. *Has written for FamilyFun, Sunset, and
numerous other magazines, as well as for the travel sections of many
newspapers. *Has done stints as both a movie and a restaurant critic.
*Has appeared on the Today Show.*Is a member of the Society of
American Travel Writers.